Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1887-08-25

again at Halltown, on the reverse of the
heights that shut in Harper's Ferry on the
Virginia side. Here we fortified, got artil-
lery in position, and waited for General
Earlys army to come and attack US. But
the Confederates did not want any fighting
on that ground, for our position was
stronger, if anything, than the famous one
on Cemetery Hill at Gettysburg. 1t was,
in fact, whole month later, and after
much more maneuyering for position, that
these armies fell together in the deadly
grapple of battle.
We underlings and musket- carriers Won
dered a great deal at the time what this
movement to the rear meant. We learned
afterward that Sheridan's scouts informed
him that Longstreet was ut hand with
heavy re- enforcement for Early, and that
our General did not think it prudent to risk
battle against unknown numbers.
That night march of fifteen miles, from
our camp near Strasburg beyond Winches-
ter, was hard one. Tho men were wearied
and were aroused from sound sleep to
begin the march. Our movements lately
had been SO rapid that we were beyond the
commissary, and rations were about ex-
hausted. During the stay near Strausburg
many of the hungry soldiers had gathered
the green corn from the fields, and naturally
become sick by eating it. The night of this
march was dark as Egypt; the weather was
close and sultry; and to finish and round
up the cheerlessness of the situation, a
drizzling rain fell most of the night.
Many individual adventures occurred
that night. One of the most interesting
wns that of William Shaw, q private in one
of the infantry regiments.
Shaw was o good soldier, and had never
before fallen out on the march, however
painful or exhausting. But not more than
six miles had been passed when he found
that he was likely to fall in ais tracks from
sickness and exhaustion. He thought that
short rest would relieve him, SO that he
could oyertake the regiment again; SO, with
out speaking to his captain. he stepped
out to the side of the road and threw him
self down on the ground.
In two minutes he was sound asleep. He
slept SO long that it was almost daylight
when he awoRe. The army was nowhere
to be seen; every vestige of it had passed
by. He took up his musket and started
again. But he was still weak and weary,
and by the time the sun was up ne found
that he could 60 no farther. He stopped at
small house little way back from the
wood and knocked. His canteen was
empty, and he thought that he could at
least get drink of the cold spring water
of the Valley.
young woman came to the door. He
asked for o cup of water and chance to
rest himself. She eyed his blue clothes
and his musket rather doubtfuly, but told
him that he could come in.
She was frying some bacon; and, when
this and some corn bread without butter
had been placed on the table, she asked
Shaw to sit up and eat. He thankfully ac-
cepted the offer.
"There's some ground coffee in nv
haversack," said he. "You're welcome
to it."
"Coffee!" she exclaimed. "I haven't had
any for months"
He produced small package of it, and
the woman eagerly put it on to boil. With
this addition to the homely breakfast, the
soldier made q good meal.
Still, he wanted more rest. His sickness
was passing off, and he was getting his
strength back; but he grew drowsy again
and craved sleep. He stretched himself
back IN the wooden rocker where he sat,
and was asleep again before he could ex-
plain himself to the woman,
She stood before him and looked at him
in puzzled way.
II hate to have the boys catch him., she
soliloquized. "It's too bad to send such
nice young fellow to the Libby"
But her actions belied her words. She
quietly took his musket and locked it up
in closet.
An uneasy movement of the sleeper
dislodged small book from his pocket
1t fell to the floor. The woman took it up
and glanced at the names written on the
hy-leaf. 1t was pocket Bible and bore
the inscription:
Matilda Shaw TO her son William,
Rome. N. Y, September 4, 1862
The woman uttered an ejaculation Of
amazement, and closely scanned the
sleeper's face. Then she shook him by
the shoulder.
"Cousin Will" she exclaimed, as he
started up and rubbed his eyes, adon't you
know me; Don't you remember Cora
Dean?"
"Why-so it 8! thought your face
looked familiar. I ought to have remem-
2ered that you were married somewhere
down here"
He promptly availed himself of the priyi-
iege that belongs to cousins, the world
oyer-he kissed her. A good many years
after she told him that when he had done
that she no longer had any doubt about his
being her cousin.
He wished to have long teIk with her,
but she stopped him. ssne brought him
his musket and bade him get away with
all possible speed.
nope TO see you again and talk over
old times, she said, "if this dreadful war
don't use us all up; but if you don't want to
go straight to Richmond, you'd better hur-
~ along after your people. Gene1al Early
s'u be following close alonss III time for